Not a bad outing
Back-up exponent Prem delivers first karate medal
EXPONENT S. Prem Kumar was not even supposed to be in Jakarta for the Asian Games but he became the toast of the Malaysian karate team.
Prem, who replaced the injured Kuala Lumpur SEA Games gold medallist Senthil Kumaran just a month ago, saved the blushes by delivering Malaysia’s first karate medal – a bronze in the men’s kumite below 60kg category yesterday.
The 24-year-old Prem overpowered Hong Kong’s Lee Chun Ho 5-0 in the repechage for the bronze at the Jakarta Convention Centre.
Earlier, his hopes of making a dream debut was dashed when he lost on a referee’s decision against Indonesian Arrosyiid Rifki in the semi-finals after both were tied for 4-4 at the end of regulation time.
Prem, who got a bye in the first round, knocked out Laos fighter Lasasimma Phonepaseuth 7-0 to reach the last eight and defeated Sri Lankan Weerakoon Mudiyanselage 3-1 to reach the semi-finals.
The Category B athlete was disappointed not to make the final but still savoured the bronze achievement.
“I gave my 100% and I tried to win the gold,” said Prem, who took bronze in the Asian Karate Championships in Jordan last month in the men’s kumite below 55kg.
“I’ve to accept the outcome as I know it’s their place and karate scoring is subjective.
“I’m still happy to get a medal as I was not supposed to compete.
“My category was not included in the Asian Games this time but I received a lucky break after Senthil injured his forehead during the Asian championships.
“I had to gain three to four kilograms more to make the weight for this category but it’s worth the struggle,” said the last year’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games bronze medallist.
It was a miserable Asian Games campaign for Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan in Jakarta.
The contingent’s flag bearer Syakilla, the winner in the women’s below 61kg class in Incheon four years ago, will return home empty-handed after a 2-3 defeat to Macau’s Wong Sok I in the bronze medal repechage in the women’s 55kg category.
A tensed up Syakilla had to fight her way through the repechage after she lost on a referee’s decision to Taiwan’s Wen Tsu-yun, who went on to successfully retain her title. R. Sharmendran and Poovanesan Madhuri will be the final medal hopes for karate when they compete today in the men’s below 75kg and women’s below 50kg respectively.